facebook   twitter   mail  

The Gisborne Photo News

 

9

An Album of Scenes from "Show boat"

The Gisborne Operatic Society's magnificent presentation of "Show Boat" has concluded, but it will linger for years in the memories of the eleven or twelve thousand people who saw it. To help keep that memory fresh "Photo News" presents in this issue an album of scenes from the show.

Pictures cannot capture the colour or the music, but they do record many of the scenes, and most of the people who helped to make Jerome Kern's classic musical drama a record-breaker for the society.

It broke records for the length of the season, for the box office takings, and for the number of seats sold. It surely established new marks for the amount spent on production (all the scenery and costumes were made here) and for the hours spent in preparation. And, most important of all, new and dizzy heights of achievement were reached on the stage.

Indeed the show was a "smasher". It had people roaring with laughter one minute, and surreptitiously dabbing at their eyes with handkerchiefs the next. The spirit and feeling of darkie days on the Mississippi came over the footlights so surely in the happy, tuneful first act that even after interval enough magic was left to enslave the audience throughout the more melancholy drama of the second act, right up to the end of the long (3 ½-hour) presentation.

The show was something in the nature of a triumph for its young producer, Garth Clark. His gift for stagecraft showed through at almost every turn; but a great deal more than this was obvious in the superb way in which the spirit of "Show Boat" came out over the footlights. In this he had the talents (for hard work as well as for effect) of a loyal and willing band of helpers; Joy Walton as chorus mistress and pianist, Doug Dyer as the musical director; Rex Hickman (scenery construction), Carol O'Donnell (scenery painting), John Tully (designer), Mrs Wood (wardrobe mistress), Ella Randle (ballet mistress), and many others. Each in turn had willing and cheerful assistants. A corps of backstage hands headed by Phil Fischbach and Rex Hickman kept the show flowing without apparent effort through its 15 scenes. The make-up artists performed wonders in one of the most difficult of all make-up shows. And the orchestra added to the pleasure of the occasion.

An almost completely new team presented the show on stage with a skill which more than matched the work of the producers. Their names are listed with the pictures which follow.

×

Much of the show's authentic atmosphere was provided by the almost-anonymous band of players who had to "black-up" each night. Here Garth presents one of their number, Jennifer Dahm, with a bouquet.

×

"Joe" (Robin Bruce) gives producer Garth Clark his final-night gift: a Black Sheep.

×

"Frank" (Jim McKnight) got a Vegetable Man...supposed to be in his own image. Others in the picture are Bill Hodgson (Ravenal), the Mayor, Mr Barker, who is the Society's patron, and Colin Brunskill (Cap'n Andy).

10

×

The Entire Cast on stage for the finale, singing "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man o' Mine"....the scene at the final performance on Saturday night, October 22. Subsequently, to accommodate the many who had not been able to gain admittance during the closing performances, the show was repeated for two extra nights.

11

×

In Scene 1, Captain Andy's players are presented to the public. On stage are the white boys and girls, with the coloured players at rear, and Windy (Richmond Robieson) on the deck of the river steamer Cotton Blossom. Featured players, left to right, are Julie (Niomi Hudson), Steve (John Spiers), Captain Andy (Colin Brunskill), Frank and Ellie (Jim McKnight and Audrey Smithers), and Parthy Ann Hawks (Doreen Harrison).

12

×

In Scene 1, Jeane Gerrard and the coloured boys and girls sing "Darkies All Work on the Mississippi".

×

Enter the white chorus for the "Captain Andy Ballyhoo". Poster advertises the show to be given on the Cotton Blossom.

13

×

The Wedding Scene. In centre of stage are Frank and Ellie, with Magnolia (Jennifer Kohn) and Captain Andy. Gaylord Ravenal (Bill Hodgson) is behind Captain Andy. At right, Parthy Ann has fainted in the arms of the Sheriff (Rex Hickman). Also at right is Pete (Adrian Cotter).

×

The Auditorium Scene, with "The Parson's Bride" in progress. As Captain Andy plays the violin, Frank and Magnolia play their parts on the stage. Upstairs are the Backwoodsmen (Ray Poole and Peter Plummer) and Parthy Ann.

14

×

The Kitchen Scene, with Joe (Robin Bruce), Magnolia, Julie and Queenie (Norma Wood).

×

The Box Office Scene. Frank and Ellie and the chorus sing "After I've Looked Round the World for a Mate".

×

The "Why Do I Love You" chorus with Parthy Ann and Cap'n Andy

15

×

The Trocadero Scene. Frank, Ellie, and chorus, with the ballet, sing "How'd You Like To Spoon With Me?"

×

Finely restrained and deeply moving were the scenes with Joe singing "Ole Man River"

×

Captain Andy and Nola are reunited in the Trocadero Scene

16

×

Kim (Jill Candy), with the 1927 chorus.

×

The Backwoodsmen give Frank a rough time.

×

The "Why Do I Love You" Ballet.